FlashReport Weblog on California Politics

As Wisconsin is set to become the 25th Right-to-Work state,
California Gov. Jerry Brown is ignoring thousands of farm workers
who don’t want to be unionized.

In one of the most significant labor relations fights in the
country proceedings have turned ugly, with many questioning the
legal tactics and scruples of the Agricultural Labor Relations
Board.

The workers at Gerawan Farming have been trying since October
2012 to decertify the United Farm Workers labor union. The workers
are not only being fought by the UFW union, Brown’s Agricultural
Labor Relations Board has thwarted them at every turn. And pleas to
the Democratic Governor and Legislature have fallen on deaf ears,
despite their claims to care for farm workers.

The only help the Gerawan workers have received is from state
Assembly members Jim Patterson, R-Fresno, and Shannon Grove,
R-Bakersfield.

Recent revelations resulted in the Feb. 13, 2015 resignation of
Democratic Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber over collusion between the
California and Washington State governors’ offices, Kitzhaber’s
office, and environmental groups, to force climate policy
coordination and collaboration across the U.S., I reported in my
story last week.”

Emails from 2013 and 2014 reveal Kitzhaber agreed to a deal
with the governors of California and Washington, to implement
low-carbon fuel standards and develop a scheme to foist
green-energy agendas on multiple… Read More

Voters overwhelmingly approved Jessica’s Law on the November
2006 ballot. Today, the California Supreme Court substituted the
opinion of the court over the will of the people.

The
court’s decision strikes down mandatory residency restrictions
on San Diego County sex offenders under Jessica’s Law and would
allow a child molester to live across the street from a school or
park where children gather. It puts San Diego families at risk and
sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the state.

My wife, former Senator Sharon Runner, and I are the authors of
Proposition 83, otherwise known as Jessica’s Law. In addition
to mandatory residency restrictions for sex offenders, the law
includes many important public safety reforms such as strengthened
sexually violent predator laws and increased parole terms. The
California Supreme Court’s decision only relates to the residency
requirements in Jessica’s Law.

The Field Poll reports that for the first time in seven years
more California voters believe the state is moving in the right
direction (50%) than feel it is on the wrong track (41%). Those
living in coastal California are much more likely to have a
positive outlook on our state’s future than inland residents. And
Democrats are more optimistic than Republicans, so it may be safe
to assume that Democrats living in Malibu, Silicon Valley and the
Bay Area are much happier than Republicans living in Central Valley
and other areas with high unemployment.

Like politicians everywhere, California’s governing class will
attempt to claim credit for this reversal of what had been nearly
unanimous pessimism. Moreover, they will also claim that this is
vindication of progressive policies that have given California one
of the most harsh tax and regulatory environments in the
nation.

However they explain the voters’ optimism, they are unlikely to
bring up the one thing for which they can claim no credit
whatsoever; the lower gas prices that existed during the period the
poll was conducted, January 26-February 16, just before the cost of
a gallon of gas began to vault… Read More

The California Republican Party convention this weekend was
devoid much drama until Sunday. A vote on whether the Log Cabin
Republicans would be officially chartered as a Republican volunteer
organization elicited excitement and furor. The Log Cabin
Republicans are a group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
Republicans, won the delegate vote overwhelmingly 861 to 293. It
wasn’t even close, which begs the question, “why not just change
the bylaws?”

Skipping Formalities?

There have been news stories recognizing that in order for the
Log Cabin Republicans to make any change within the Party
structure,they
knew they neededthe Republican Party to formally change
or remove the CRP bylaw that excludes groups advocating for
“certain lifestyle preferences or orientations” from holding a
position… Read More

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie sounded very much like a
presidential candidate at the California Republican Party
convention Saturday in Sacramento.

Christie, who enjoys a higher approval rating in blue state New
Jersey than President Barack Obama, said he’s built trust and
confidence by being a conservative. And he was critical of Obama
for dividing the country during his time in office.

Christie said media in the coming months will say Republicans
can’t afford a long nomination battle and should “unite behind
whatever candidate appears to have the most money, the most
endorsements or the best press coverage.”

He reminded the Republican audience that former President Ronald
Reagan didn’t win the presidential nomination until May of 1980,
and Barack Obama didn’t win the Democratic nomination until June
2008, and added that Republicans do not need to rush to choose a
2016 presidential nominee under… Read More

This year, I am sponsoring legislation to extend common sense
protections to taxpayers.
Assembly Bill 867, authored by Assemblyman Donald Wagner, would
require the state to provide a full refund to all individuals who
paid a tax later declared unconstitutional or illegal.

AB 867 is identical to
AB 2510 (Wagner) and
SB 1327 (Knight), legislation I sponsored in 2014. Legislative
committees blocked both bills from advancing last year.

It is criminal that the State of California can keep money it
illegally collects from its citizens. Anyone who in good faith pays
what ends up being an illegal tax should get their money back. It’s
as simple as that.

Currently, taxpayers are only eligible to receive refunds if
they have exhausted all their administrative appeals remedies, even
if the tax they paid is later declared illegal or… Read More

Given the high level of
interest in the 2016 US Senate race, I thought I would take the
opportunity immediately before the CRP convention this weekend to
answer whether I am seriously considering running.

The answer is yes, I am seriously considering running for the
U.S. Senate in 2016. I believe I can do the job. If I see a path to
winning the election, I will run.

While I do not fit the typical mold of the person running for
this office, in talking to voters throughout the state the last two
months, it is clear to me that is an asset. The current system is
not working for the hard working women and men of this state. They
do not believe the current leaders (a) listen to them or (b) know
how to get things done. It is one of the key reasons voter
participation is at an all-time low. (Only 31% of registered voters
voted in LA County in 2014.)